Debe Sylvester Odumegwu Ojukwu |
Emerging reports reaching Republic Reporters indicate that there is controversy in late General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu’s family, over multiple billion dollar estate left behind by their grandfather, late Sir Louis Ojukwu. Debe Sylvester Ojukwu had claimed that he was sidelined during burial ceremony of Ojukwu. He said “I am the first son, who knows someone may come up and say that he is the first son…”, when a reporter told him that “some identify Ojukwu Jr, as the first son of Ojukwu instead of you”.
To back up his argument Debe Sylvester Odumegwu Ojukwu 1st Son Of Ikemba Nnewi Led the delegation To Igwe Nnewi in preparation to the burial of General Ojukwu and nobody questioned that, nor took the lead visit the home of Igwe.
To back up his argument Debe Sylvester Odumegwu Ojukwu 1st Son Of Ikemba Nnewi Led the delegation To Igwe Nnewi in preparation to the burial of General Ojukwu and nobody questioned that, nor took the lead visit the home of Igwe.
late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu |
Last month, Republic Reporters reported that the “family delegation, led by Sylvester Ojukwu, a lawyer and first son of the Ikemba Nnewi, who had earlier arrived the Igwe’s palace at about 8.30a.m, went through the motions of advising the monarch on the death of his father as the tradition and customs of the town demanded.
“Sylvester, who was accompanied by his uncle, Chief Innocent Okafor and Obi Benneth Okafor, the paramount ruler of his Umudim community and other delegates, told Igwe K.O.N Orizu III, represented by the palace Secretary, Prince Joseph Ikeotuonye, that his father was dead.
The South-East governors had earlier in the week stated that the funeral rites of the ex-Biafran warlord will be held in Enugu, the capital of the old Eastern Region, before handing the body to his kinsmen at Nnewi for burial.
According to Debe, “Though I was not privy to the decision of the South-East governors, in Igbo culture, you don’t alienate anybody that wants to assist you, you accommodate him. As to the feelings within the Nnewi community, I am not to say, it is the decision of our traditional institution, and part of it is why we are here today to formally inform that traditional institution of what has taken place.
“The moment it happened, I did what I felt was culturally appropriate by going to London with my uncle, Chief Innocent Okafor, who my father said we should look for, if anything happens to him. We went to confirm and ascertain the veracity of that news. That is why we came here today, with our Obi, to inform our umbrella Monarch, the Igwe Nnewi. I am from Nnewi, but not Nnewi, when the issue of the funeral rites arises, Nnewi will speak for their son”, Ojukwu emphasized.
But after the burial Debe now claimed that he was sidelined because of the multi-billion dollar estate of their grandfather.
Debe Ojukwu, “They sidelined me so and denied me opportunity to meet President Jonathan, they did it to make it look like I am not the first son”, he told reporters. He threatened that he will be making public statement in connection to underlying family crisis which was pick-up by Republic Reporters. There has been gossips that the alleged first son of Dim Ojukwu is not really his first son legally and by Igbo-traditional and cultural etiquette and standards. If a son is had out of wed-luck, he or she is not considered legally and traditionally a true son or daughter there by creating frictions within the family of those who claimed to the legitimate son.
According to one Ijeoma: “Ojukwu never accepted debe as his son and did not want anything to do with debe , debe changed his name to ojukwu at the age of 23, he was not in his so called fathers compound when he was buried , who is he trying to fool?
She did not stop there. She said: “He (Debe Sylvester Ojukwu) is a bastard end of story..”, she blasted away in furry and anger. Apparently there is something more in this family saga.
We are monitoring this development and will follow-up it to the end.
Culled from Republic Report